Sheath for a curling broom

ABSTRACT

A sheath for a curling broom formed of a single length of multiple ply laminate material the outer ply being of a coarse synthetic fibre separated from an inner synthetic liner sheet by an elastomer foam and adapted to receive and to support the cornstalk brush of a curling broom to improve the effectiveness and life thereof and packaged in a sleeve adapted to facilitate the correct insertion of the broom cornstalks into the sheath.

[ 1 Nov. 12, 1974 I SHEATH FOR A CURLING BROOM [76] Inventor: Albert L. Botting, 616 12th St.,

Hanover, Ontario, Canada 22 Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 211 Appl.No.:342,355

[52] US. Cl 15/210 R, 15/247, 53/390, 150/52 G, 206/361 [51] Int. Cl. A46b 17/04, A63b 67/14 [58] Field of Search 15/114, 160, 168, 175, 15/210 R, 247; 150/526 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,086 2/1908 Lodge l5/247 1,476,396 12/1923 Dickson 15/247 2,815,521 12/1957 Winckler 15/247 X 2,963,731 l2/1960 Hoots 15/247 3,303,865 2/1967 Ouimet 150/52 G 3,491,397 1/1970 Hesener 15/118 3,716,885 2/1973 Thompson [5/210 R 3,768,111 10/1973 Lees l5/2l0 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS pp. 43 and 44 of text entitled Warp Knitting Technology," published in I952 by Harlequin Press (0. Ltd., Manchester, 2, England Primary E.\'aminerDaniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cavanagh & Norman [57] ABSTRACT A sheath for a curling broom formed of a single length of multiple ply laminate material the outer ply being of a coarse synthetic fibre separated from an inner synthetic liner sheet by an elastomer foam and adapted to receive and to support the cornstalk brush of a curling broom to improve the effectiveness and life thereof and packaged in a sleeve adapted to facilitate the correct insertion of the broom cornstalks into the sheath.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 SHEATH FOR A CURLING BROOM This invention relates to a sheath for curling brooms.

The sheathing of a broom, such as by a material such as cotton, has been known heretofor. Attempts have been made to sheath curling brooms with different textile sheet materials. Curling ice in good condition is characterised by a slightly pebbled surface and as a result the sheathing of a curling broom with a textile material of natural fibres is subject to severe wear and, in addition, the textile becomes wet, ices up and generally becomes of little use, especially as a result of penetration thereof by broom bristles.

While some curling sweepers have been interested in improving the character of curling brooms and have endeavoured to seek as a solution by the provision of some kind of sheath therefor, the difficulty alone of inserting the broom into the sheath has led to cornstalk or bristle breakage and rapid breakdown of the sheath.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a sheath for curling brooms which presents a slightly roughened surface which may be regarded as substantially wetproof and adapted to repel water and ice and which provides at the working surfaces of the broom a strong, slightly cushioned wearing surface adapted to perform as a flexible envelope, nevertheless maintaining the desired alignment condition of the cornstalks of the broom thereby to obviate the disadvantage of the deposit of cornstalk breakage onto the ice during use and generally to provide a consistent character of sweeping result over a longer period of use than is experienced with the usual curling broom.

It is another'object of the invention to provide a sheath for curling brooms embodying a supplementary packaging sleeve adapted to assist in the alignment of cornstalks of the curling broom prior to and during assembly of the latter with the sheath herein and which is adapted to be removed thereafter to leave the curling broom in proper assembly within the sheath of the invention.

Other objects of the invention will be appreciated by a study of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a curling broom with the broom sheath of the invention installed thereon.

FIG. 2 shows a cut-out of a material adapted to be stitched or otherwise fastened to form the sheath of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exterior elevation of the curling broom sheath of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of a wall of the sheath of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sheath of the invention in packaged form for distribution and sale.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner of assembly of a curling broom and the sheath of the invention by utilising a packaging sleeve. I

FIG. 8 shows the laststage of assembly of sheath-and broom prior to removal of the packaging sleeve ready for attachment of fastening means.

FIG. 9 is an elevation of fastening means used to-retain the broom sheath of the invention on the curling broom.

The curling broom sheath 10 of the invention is shown in assembly with a curling broom 11 and held thereon by suitable fastening means, such as an adjustable grommet strap 12 (FIG. 9). r

The sheath 10 is formed of a single length of multiple ply laminated material 13 adapted to be folded inwardly on the median or end fold line 14 and on the connecting strap fold lines 15 of the connecting strap portions 16 of lesser width than the width W of the body portion 17 to develop the substantially straight side walled sleeved structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, preferably stitched or sewn in the inner side edges 18 throughout the length of the body and sewn to provide two looped connecting straps 19 having a corresponding series of mounting strap openings 20, 21, 22 therein.

The outer sheath of the multiple ply sleeve is shown in enlarged sectional detail in FIG. 5 and comprises a pebble stitch circular knit nylon sheet 23 of relatively coarse weave bonded by a suitable cement such as a latex glue to a foamed rubber sheet 24 separating same from an inner liner sheet 25 formed of nylon tricot net. The inner and outer sheet materials are thus formed of synthetic fibre of non-absorbant character for water. The inner liner 25 may or may not be cemented to the sponge rubber intermediate layer 24.

As seen in FIG. 6 the sheath 10 of the invention is preferably packaged with a fastening strap 12 within a tubular plastic envelope 26. The envelope 26 enters into the operation of inserting the curling broom 11 into a sheath 10 as indicated in FIG. 7. Thus, envelope 26 is brought over the handle 27 of broom 11 and moved in the direction of arrow Y to cause it to totally enclose the cornstalks 28 of the curling broom. Thereafter the sheath 10 of the invention may be brought into assembly over the thus aligned and retained cornstalks in the manner indicated in FIG. 8, whereupon the envelope 26 is then removed in the direction of the arrow Z. By this means breakage of the cornstalks of the broom and catching of same in the material of the inner liner 25 is avoided.

The mounting strap 12 is then inserted through the appropriate openings 20, 21 or 22 of connecting straps 19 and fastened to appropriate tightness by connection of two of the female fasteners 29 with the two male fasteners 30.

In use, the free end 31 of the sleeve of the invention, being devoid of stitching, presents surfaces characterised by the nature of the pebble stitch circular knit nylonouter covering 23 which has been found to be ideally suited for the present purposes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheath for a curling broom having a handle and a cornstalk brush and comprising: a single length of multiple ply material of uniform width to its side edges and terminating at its ends in portions of narrower width, said uniform width portion being folded transversely on a line midway between its ends; means fastening the edges of said material inwardly to form a sheath having a closed end at said fold line, said narrower end portions being inturned and fastened to define corresponding openings therein, said multiple ply material being in the form of a laminate of an external sheet of coarse surfaced synthetic fibre separated from an inner liner of synthetic fibre material by an elastomer foam sheet, fastening means connectable through the openings of said end portions for fastening the sheath having a closed end at said fold line, said narrower end portions being inturned and fastened to define corresponding openings therein, said multiple ply material being in the form of a laminate of an external sheet of coarse surfaced synthetic fibre separated from an inner liner of synthetic fibre material by an elastomer foam sheet, and a packaging sleeve adapted for packaging same and for retaining the cornstalks of a broom in alignment during insertion of the cornstalks into the sheath. 

1. A sheath for a curling broom having a handle and a cornstalk brush and comprising: a single length of multiple ply material of uniform width to its side edges and terminating at its ends in portions of narrower width, said uniform width portion being folded transversely on a line midway between its ends; means fastening the edges of said material inwardly to form a sheath having a closed end at said fold line, said narrower end portions being inturned and fastened to define corresponding openings therein, said multiple ply material being in the form of a laminate of an external sheet of coarse surfaced synthetic fibre separated from an inner liner of synthetic fibre material by an elastomer foam sheet, fastening means connectable through the openings of said end portions for fastening the sheath to the curling broom, and a packaging sleeve adapted for packaging same and for retaining the cornstalks of a broom in alignment during insertion of the cornstalks into the sheath.
 2. A sheath for a curling broom having a handLe and a cornstalk brush and comprising: a single length of multiple ply material of uniform width to its side edges and terminating at its ends in portions of narrower width, said uniform width portion being folded transversely on a line midway between its ends; means fastening the edges of said material inwardly to form a sheath having a closed end at said fold line, said narrower end portions being inturned and fastened to define corresponding openings therein, said multiple ply material being in the form of a laminate of an external sheet of coarse surfaced synthetic fibre separated from an inner liner of synthetic fibre material by an elastomer foam sheet, and a packaging sleeve adapted for packaging same and for retaining the cornstalks of a broom in alignment during insertion of the cornstalks into the sheath. 